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Good
morning !
Road Warrior First Aid
With
summer approaching there are many people who will take time away
from home who normally don’t travel. We “REAL ROAD WARRIORS”
call the afore mentioned armatures or tourists. Preparation is
one distinguishing feature between the two groups. What would a
pharmacist‘s Road Warrior first aid kit look like?
Below
are some situations and potential remedies from head to toe. You
can decide for yourself how much to invest in your Road Warrior
First Aid Kit.
Headache/ fever/pain: Aspirin,
Tylenol(acetaminophen), Motrin (Ibuprofen)
Sore eyes: lubricating eye drops
may ease the soreness and dryness (Don't forget to wear those
sunglasses when appropriate to ease eye strain.)
Allergies: Claritin (loratidine) is
a non-sedating antihistamine that was just converted from
prescription only to over-the-counter. Don't go anywhere near
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) or any product that contains it if
you can’t afford to go to sleep.
Congestion: Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
can give you some relief but be sure to read directions on any
OTC products before you use them.
Tooth ache: a little bottle of OIL
OF CLOVES and some cotton.(Keep these in a ziplock-type bag to
keep from smelling or getting on other items.) To use it you put
a drop or two on a piece of cotton and lay it between your cheek
and gum. This will give you some temporary relief from most
dental pain until you get to a dentist. Don't forget the other
pain medicine you brought along.
Cough: any sugar-free cough drop
with menthol or Fisherman's Friend (if you can find some) should
take the tickle away. You can also use a generic form of
Robitussin DM syrup to suppress the cough. I recently found some
dextromethorphan gel caps that do the same thing but without the
bulk and mess of the syrup.
Cuts and scrapes: Bacitracin
(triple antibiotic) ointment, Bandage strips.
Stomach acid: Too much Tex-Mex?
Pepcid Complete combines the quick relief of Tums with the
sustained acid reduction of Pepcid. Zantac (ranitidine) and
Prilosec OTC are alternatives.
Diarrhea: The "flu", bad water, or
the food at that last greasy spoon can make it nearly impossible
to travel any distance. Imodium (loperamide) or old fashioned
Pepto Bismol may be what you need.
Hemorrhoids: .Tuck's pads. Instead
of buying a big tub you may wish to opt for the sealed pouches
which are easier to pack. Hemorrhoidal ointments may give added
relief.
Athlete's foot: Alternating between
two pairs of shoes will keep your feet dryer and make you less
likely to develop athlete's foot. If you do start itching, then
use Lotrimin, Tinactin, or other foot powder. The creams are
available for the more stubborn cases.
That's about it from head to toe except
for the disclaimer. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if
you have any questions. Read and follow all label instructions.
You may have a condition that would prevent you from safely
using any specific OTC product (for example diabetes, high blood
pressure, glaucoma). If the label says anything about
"drowsiness" or "operating heavy equipment" then
avoid using the medicine. (I would consider a Jet-Ski “heavy
equipment”.)
Hopefully these tips will get you home
safely, comfortably, and in as good of shape as when you left.
PS Don’t forget the sunscreen!
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ps. Best answer this
week to the question "How are you?"
was
"it's a
great day for hockey" (Badger Bob Johnson who obviously doesn't
realize it's springtime)
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